Catholic and Protestant Bibles: What is the Difference?

Catholic Exchange.com ^ | 02-06-07 | Mary Harwell Sayler

[Salvation]

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Catholic and Protestant Bibles: What is the Difference?

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March 6, 2007

Question: What's the difference between a Catholic Bible and a Protestant one? Is our Old Testament the same as a Jewish Bible? If not, why?

Answer: The most noticeable differences occur in the number of books included and the order in which they have been arranged. Both the Jewish Bible and the Hebrew canon in a Protestant Bible (aka Old Testament) contain 39 books, whereas a Catholic Bible contains 46 books in the Old Testament. In addition, the Greek Orthodox, or Eastern Orthodox, Church accepts a few more books as canonized scripture.

To give you a quick overview of a complicated subject, here's what happened: Several hundred years before the birth of Christ, Babylonian conquerors forced the Jews to leave Jerusalem. Away from their Temple and, often, from their priests, the exiled people forgot how to read, write, and speak Hebrew. After a while, Jewish scholars wanted to make the Bible accessible again, so they translated Hebrew scriptures into the Greek language commonly spoken. Books of wisdom and histories about the period were added, too, eventually becoming so well known that Jesus and the earliest Christian writers were familiar with them. Like the original Hebrew scriptures, the Greek texts, which were known as the Septuagint, were not in a codex or book form as we're accustomed to now but were handwritten on leather or parchment scrolls and rolled up for ease in storage.

Eventually, the Jewish exiles were allowed to return to Jerusalem where they renovated the Temple. Then, in A.D. 70, warring peoples almost completely destroyed the sacred structure, which has never been rebuilt. Without this central place of worship, the Jews began looking to the Bible as their focal point of faith, but to assure the purity of that faith, only Hebrew scriptures were allowed into the Jewish canon. By then, however, the earliest Christians spoke and read Greek, so they continued to use the Septuagint or Greek version of the Bible for many centuries. After the Reformation though, some Christians decided to accept translations into Latin then English only from the Hebrew texts that the Jewish Bible contained, so the seven additional books in the Greek translation became known as the Apocrypha, meaning "hidden." Since the books themselves were no secret, the word seemed ironic or, perhaps, prophetic because, in 1947, an Arab boy searching for a lost goat found, instead, the Dead Sea scrolls, hidden in a hillside cave.

Interestingly, the leather scrolls had been carefully wrapped in linen cloth, coated in pitch, and placed in airtight pottery jars about ten inches across and two feet high where, well-preserved, they remained for many centuries. Later, other caves in the same area yielded similar finds with hundreds of manuscripts no longer hidden. Indeed, the oldest copies of the Bible now known to exist are the Dead Sea scrolls of the Septuagint.

Because of this authentic find from antiquity, many publishers in the twentieth century added back the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, First and Second Maccabees, as well as additions to Esther and Daniel. So now, when an edition of the Bible says "with Apocrypha" on the cover, the extra books from the Septuagint will usually be placed between the Old and New Testaments or at the end of the Bible. Catholic Bibles already contained those books, however, so you'll find them interwoven with other Old Testament books of history and wisdom writings. 

For the New Testament, it's a different story — and short. All of the books were written in Greek or Aramaic from the start. Although some debate occurred about which Gospels or Epistles should be included, all Christians eventually accepted all of the same 27 books in the same order. So, as long as you choose an edition that does not add explanatory notes opposed to a Catholic perspective, any reputable translation of the New Testament is fine.

 

© Copyright 2007 Catholic Exchange

[Alamo-Girl]

Truly, the contention is being caused by semantics.

Evidently when you say "personality" you are meaning "person" or "identity" whereas others are interpreting "personality" to mean "willfulness" and in particular self-centeredness.

Even though the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit are One - and there are no bright lines to separate them - they each are Persons.

Truly there will be no place in the new heaven and earth for self-centeredness. When you get right down to it, that is what got Satan into trouble, Adam and Eve - and myriad persons throughout Scripture.

But even those who are stationary - like the four living beings around the throne in Rev 4 - retain their identities.

Likewise, those of us who want to be transparent in Him hopefully will not be clearly distinguishable to a third party observer - but Christ knows us, we retain our persons. And we know each other.

***

You asked whether my sister appeared to be about age 30 in my "night travels." Perhaps so or perhaps younger even. It really wasn't an issue. She seemed young and healthy and bright.

[Alamo-Girl]

Indeed, Marysecretary, I cannot imagine a better life either. May God abundantly bless you, dear sister in Him.

[Forest Keeper]

... at one point in time there were canons which forbade Christians from going to a Jewish doctor or riding in public conveyances with Jews but these are no longer even remotely viable.

Thanks for the additional info. This answers a question I was going to ask Kosta about "expanding" doctrine. It would seem that being allowed to go to a Jewish doctor after being forbidden to do so is more like an opposite move than an expanding one. But, I can imagine that there was no dogma about it either way before, so it can be said that either position is not in contradiction to any dogma.

[Marysecretary]

Amen, wmfights. That's exactly what it is. When you need extra outside books (Like the Book of Mormon, etc.) to explain your doctrine, you are off the bubble. Stick to scripture only and you'll know what God wants of you.

[Mad Dawg]

Do angles communicate with God?

As Pope Gregory said, "Not angels, but Anglicans." I think Saxons communicate with God okay. With Picts, it's tricky. Jutes, I don't know. Angles? Well, Yeah, probably.

Kosta, I'm not saying you ARE a cultist, but you're getting to sound like one. I asked an open question, you responded with leading questions. What's that about? My question, which you did not answer, was an effort to determine is you were distinguishing between self and personality. I have asked to be allowed to sit away from this thread until I felt I understood what you were saying, and you pinged me. I asked for help for information, and you answered like someone in a debate. I am no closer to understanding your point than I was.

I would say communicating with God is a special case, but that angles arguable have something sorta kinda like a body, but I would also say that many ideas or notions which enter our heads which we THINK sort of spontaneously arose motu proprio (heh heh) are actually angelic or demonic in origin, and possibly even divine in origin.

I don't see what radio waves have to do with what I said.

I Don't think my self is who I think or believe I am. "personality" has to do with masks through which sound comes. I can['t find anything I like about "self". Are we talking atman or anatman here?

I think my physical characteristics have to do with some attitudes and responses I have- for example, I am used to gorgeous women throwing themselves at me, while at first it used to scare me. But my compassionate and understanding refusal of their indecent proposals is more about my self than my awesome good looks.

Similarly with needs, I'm working on a hypothesis that goes something like, it's not being hungry that makes me who I am, but over time it's what I DO when I'm hungry that at least contributes to the making of Moi.

As to the needs of a soul. It won't live without God's holding it in life. It won't enjoy living if it isn't loved. Would those be "needs"?

As to the weight of love (anybody know the total weight of Jesus on the cross?) I answer that I was talking about how we human creatures communicate love, not about the love we communicate.

There, I have tried to be responsive.

[Mad Dawg]

Aw, shucks. Thanks. It's hard not to be at least a little beautiful when you're trying to talk about Heaven. The subject elevates the words.

[hosepipe]

[... Likewise, if we believe a certain thing is sinful – then for us, it is – and we’ll be judged by whether or not we do the thing willfully having that belief. I imagine the Amish will be judged by a different standard than the Catholics than the Southern Baptists and so on. ..]

Thats quite a concept.. that humans cannot even live by their own personal ethics.. but sin against it.. True with atheists, agnostics, or the most religious religionist.. Mankind's faithfulness is quite capricious.. Extra biblical, as you say, even.. JUDGED by ones OWN ETHICS.. is a possible hearing before any judgement to come for some.. double jeopardy..

Judged by ones own personal morality could be a harrowing adventure.. as a pre-trial.. or hearing.. for the especially hard headed and arrogant.. Who, I ask, could survive the pressure they/some have put on others all their lives.. by lack of forgivness..

[Quix]

Do angles communicate with God?

= = =

Are we talking about

RIGHT ANGLES?

OBTUSE ANGLES?

ACUTE ANGLES?

Angles IN triangles or outside of triangles?

We have to be clear about these things.

And, I forget, how many angles can dance on the FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT?

And are they plastic angles or metal angles, brass, steel or aluminum?

And does the protractors union care or protest?

And what do the tape measures have to say about it all?

[Alamo-Girl]

So very true, dear hosepipe. Were it not for Christ, none of us could survive even the condemnation of our conscience.

For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and [their] thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. - Romans 2:11-16

And not our own conscience alone, but how we deal with the conscience of others:

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend. - I Cor 8:9-13

[kawaii]

I've been to enough protestant churches. Most of it is about glorifying the pastor (or berating him depending on the sermon). A lot of singing of songs which frankly most of the time are only vaguley a tangent to what scripture preaches. There is a lot of saying the word Jesus, but when it come to real worship (ie not a lot of folks talking or teaching but actual worship) they fall short.

That and having seen protestant parishes (locally no less) with pastors advocating gay marriage, and transvestites being welcomed as folks God actually meant to be the opposite sex (so much for God makes no mistakes) I must say protestantism falls short.

[Mad Dawg]

RIGHT ANGLES?

Well, only if they understand that their righteousness comes from God and from Him alone.

And, I forget, how many angles can dance on the FOUR CORNERS MONUMENT?

Dah-h-h-h GUM! That IS a poser!

What did one angle say to the other?
Meet you at the corner!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

[MarkBsnr]

The newer churches and older ones morphing into something that their founders might shudder at seem to have one thing in common - the stage. The focus is on the speaker who lectures.

There is more (or less) focus on lecturing and speaking than on Bible verses and very little on actual praying.

About a third of our Mass is actual praying. Adding in the hymns, which can be considered prayer in song, plus readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament and the Gospels, plus the fact that we actually follow the Biblical directive to kneel in prayer, I'd say that we follow Scripture very well.

We must keep our attention on the Bible - the whole Bible, not the abridged versions and not just on certain books such as Luke and Acts.

[kosta50]

It must be tough to be you, Kosta. You know it all

I say a lot of things, but I don't insult God by covering my personal opinions with the all-knowing Spirit, like some do.

[AlbionGirl]

Wm, here's an old thread that I found by accident. It's interesting.

[kosta50]

We grow more like Him as we grow IN Him

Right now we only grow in our bodies (some seem better at it then others). We will be born again when God fogives us for everything we have done (if we live in repentance, pray, fast and do all those wonderful things mentioned in 2 Peter), thereby making our souls free of all iniquities, and gives us a new and untainted body like a new and spottless gown fitting for our cleansed soul.

No one has been born again — yet! That is yet to happen in the world to come (biblical words) which means it's not here yet.

How can a clean soul exist in a body that committed sin? Oh wait, I remember Luther saying something awful like "we are dung covered with a white sheet." What nonsense!

[wmfights]

Wow.

Thanks. This is a subject I became fascinated by when I began looking into where the Baptist's originated from, if they aren't Protestants.

[AlbionGirl]

I thought you might like it.

[Forest Keeper]

Thank you also for all the additional info concerning the disciplines, the ECC, and iconography. Very informative.

[Mr. Lucky]

The fact that you treat "protestantism" as a single monolithic church (and then refuse to capitalize the "P") suggests your post is intended more as an insult than a serious discussion of liturgy.

[kawaii]

Protestantism is one single movement attempting to mask un-Christanity as Christian. That is the single thread throughout all 20000 protestant sects.